Tags:

Words. They're around us every second of every minute of every day. They're spoken, written and read aloud. They are the tools we use to communicate.

Words can inspire us. They can bring us to tears. They can motivate us to action. They can make us laugh. They can arouse every emotion known to man within our hearts.

They can also be lots of fun to play with! If you've ever done a crossword puzzle or a word search, you know word games can be fun. Today's Wonder of the Day is about a specific type of wordplay that kids love: anagrams!

An anagram is a word game that involves rearranging the letters of a word or group of words to make a new word or group of words. The only rule: you have to use all the original letters just once.

Rather than simply coming up with any new word or group of words, people who love anagrams challenge themselves to come up with anagrams that in some way comment on or reflect the subject. For example, “the eyes" can be rearranged into “they see." Or “listen" can be rearranged into “silent."

Anagrams have also often been used to disguise names or to create aliases. Harry Potter fans probably already know that “Tom Marvolo Riddle" is really “I am Lord Voldemort." In fact, historians have traced the origin of anagrams back to the time of Moses, when anagrams were used to discover the hidden meaning behind names.

Anagrams are fun to do on their own. But they're also a part of many other types of word games. If you've ever played Boggle, completed the Jumble in a newspaper or tried your hand at a crypticcrossword puzzle, you've used anagrams as part of those games.

Wonder Words (12)

Wonder What's Next?

Your dentist will appreciate tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day!

Try It Out

Ready to play with words? Let's have some fun with anagrams!

What other words can you make with your name? Find out by using the handy-dandy Internet Anagram Server online. For example, when we typed Wonderopolis into the search box, we found the following fun anagrams:

Think you can guess some anagrams with clues? Test yourself with these fun quizzes:

ava

Wonderopolis

Nov 29, 2013

Hey Ava! There are lots of places with caves. Have you ever been to one? We WONDERed about caves in Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri in #1095 How Cool Are Caves? that you can check out here: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-cool-are-caves/ :)

karan

Wonderopolis

Mrs. Cornies

Nov 26, 2012

Hello there! We found your site because my daughter is a teacher and told us how much fun her class had with Wonderopolis. Now I've introduced my class and our neighbouring class, Mrs. Geier's grade 4's and 5's to your site as well. We all love the video clips and look forward to playing the games.

Wonderopolis

Nov 27, 2012

Hey there, Mrs. Cornies! We are THRILLED to be a part of your class! It's so great to hear about our educator friends who introduce their students to the Wonders that surround us! Thanks so much for spreading the Wonder in your classroom and to other Wonder Friends, too! We'll see you soon! :)

Wonderopolis

keanu

Nov 22, 2012

Hello I am from Miss. Cornies' class what is going to be the next game? I hope you a good one because if it is I'll go on it every day you must be really smart and I hope you have fun there! Where do you live?

Wonderopolis

Miss. Cornies' grade 3/4/5 cla...

Nov 21, 2012

Our class would like to say hi again! We really liked playing your games so we came back to this website! How do you know all the wonders you ask? Can we visit sometime and go on a field trip? Have a very good day WONDERopolis! :)

Wonderopolis

Nov 21, 2012

Hey there, Wonder Friends in Miss Cornies' grade 3/4/5 class! We're so excited that you're back with us today! We think it's cool that you mentioned a field trip-- we think every time you visit Wonderopolis it's like taking a virtual field trip! We LOVE WONDERing with friends like you-- you can even nominate your very own Wonder here: http://wonderopolis.org/nominate-wonder
We hope you have a WONDERful Wednesday, Wonder Friends! :)

Randi

Wonderopolis

Nov 18, 2012

Hey there Randi! We are so glad you shared another comment with us-- we LOVE meeting new Wonder Friends like you! We hope to see you and your Wonder Friends from Miss Cornies' class again soon! Have a great day! :)

Miss. Cornies' grade 3/4/5 cla...

Nov 15, 2012

It was fun playing the games. You're the best at the game. I love it(game)! You are the best game makers in the whole world. It was very fun playing your games! You must be proud of yourself making this game. Your website is really fun. Your games are funny!
Thanks, Miss. Cornies' class

Wonderopolis

Nov 15, 2012

How great, Wonder Friends in Miss Cornies' grade 3/4/5 class! Thanks for joining us as we Wonder about word games! There is so much fun to be had at Wonderopolis-- how WONDERful that you're here today! :)

Natalie

Oct 2, 2012

Our class used this in a "Reading Minute". I summarized it as: Words aren't only for reading, there are also games you can play with them!
I like anagrams, and it is fun that you included Harry Potter in this article.

Wonderopolis

Oct 2, 2012

Hey there, Natalie! Your "Reading Minute" sounds very fun-- you're one lucky student! You did a super job of summarizing our word game Wonder-- nice work! Have a WONDERful day, we are so glad you shared your comment, Natalie! :)

Wonderopolis

Taylor

Sep 27, 2012

Dear wonderopolis,
Thank you for creating wonderopolis! It's very interesting to explore. You should continue the website for a long time. I never would have known about wonderopolis if it wasn't for my teacher. You have interesting things. I will get on wonderopolis for many years to come. Thank you wonderopolis!

Wonderopolis

Sep 27, 2012

We're oh-so-glad you're here, Taylor! Thanks for checking out Wonderopolis and sharing your comment with us! We hope you're ready to hang out for a long time-- we love having great Wonder Friends like you! :)

jules

Sep 26, 2012

I remembered what words can make you react
1. they can make you laugh
2. cry
3. words can hurt your heart and soul
4. words can really make someone mad
from this I really learned how important words are.

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

WOW, you did a SUPER job of pointing out how words affect others, Jules! We are so proud of you, Wonder Friend! Thanks for sharing your comment with us-- it's important to remember that words can hurt others. We must be kind to one another, just like we would like to be treated! Have a WONDERful day! :)

KF Dragons

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

WOW, the KF Dragons are doing a GREAT job playing with words today! We're so proud of all of you, Wonder Friends! We also liked how you used the words "tap" and "pat" in a sentence! Have a SUPER day! :)

Hali.the.minecrafter21

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

WOHOO, you used some great adjectives to describe today's Wonder, Hali the Minecrafter21! We are glad you enjoyed WONDERing about your favorite type of game to play-- one with words! Have a SUPER day! :)

Seddy

Wonderopolis

Mrs. Witkowski's 4th grade cla...

Sep 26, 2012

Dear Wonderopolis,
We were a little confused by today's video, but we enjoyed learning about games.
We think tomorrow's wonder will be about teeth and keeping your teeth clean.
Thank you for the wonders,
Mrs. Witkowski's 4th graders

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

Hello Wonder Friends in Mrs. Witkowski's class! We're so glad you're here! We're sorry to hear that the video was a bit confusing-- we liked how it showed how one word can be turned into another word by mixing up the letter order. Thanks for telling us! :)
We hope you have a WONDERful day and we can't wait to see you tomorrow... thanks for sharing your SUPER guesses! :)

jacob

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

Great job, Jacob! We LOVE to have fun with words-- it helps us learn at Wonderopolis, too! We are so glad you're here with us today-- thanks for sharing your SUPER comment! :) AND A BIG H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y TO YOU, WONDER FRIEND! Don't forget to make a wish when you blow out the birthday candles!
Wonder #366-- Why Do We Blow Out Birthday Candles? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-we-blow-out-birthday-candles/ :)

C Karr

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

HOORAY, we are so glad our Wonder Friends in Mrs. Karr's class are enjoying today's Wonder! We love finding new words to create from other words-- it keeps our imaginations in great shape! Thanks for visiting today! We hope you have a SUPER day! :)

LIz

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

Hi there Liz, great observation! We think you've got a great question, too! We aren't sure why the word talking is in the word cloud, but there are lots of other words that don't necessarily fit with "sweater", too. Thanks for WONDERing with us today! :)

Student

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

What a STELLAR comment, Wonder Student! We are so glad to hear that you're WONDERing about fun with words-- and that you enjoy playing word games! They keep our minds sharp and are also a great way to have fun! Thanks for stopping by today! :)

Wonderopolis

Mrs. Tillman's 4th grade class

Sep 26, 2012

Dear Wonderopolis,
We loved today's wonder, it was unexpected! We really thought we it would have been about mimes.
We think tomorrow's wonder will have to do with teeth, toothbrushes, and dental care.
Thank you for the wonders,
Mrs. Tillman's 4th graders

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

We're sorry we tricked you with our Wonder clues, but we are so happy the SUPER students in Mrs. Tillman's class are here! HOORAY! :)
We Wonder if you have any favorite word games that you enjoy playing in class or at home? We can't wait to Wonder with all of you tomorrow! :)

Ms. Bayko's Class

Sep 26, 2012

Anagrams are awesome! We played an animal anagram game. We changed REED into DEER, and PAWS into WASP!
We think tomorrow's wonder will be about brushing your teeth, getting your teeth, or getting braces.

Wonderopolis

Sep 26, 2012

WOW, we are so impressed by our Wonder Friends in Ms. Bayko's class! We think you've been doing a SUPER job today-- we hope you are having fun playing with words! Thanks for guessing what tomorrow's Wonder will bring... until then, have a WONDERful day! :)